The share index reversed some of yesterday’s losses as it advanced by 0.03 per cent to 4,442.789 points. Most of today’s trading activity (totalling €0.25 million) took place in the equity of FIMBank.
The US dollar denominated equity of FIMBank gained 2.4 per cent to the 84cUS level across 255,800 shares – representing nearly 75 per cent of today’s total value of equities traded.
In contrast, Lombard Bank fell by 4.8 per cent to €2 across insignificant volumes totalling just 601 shares - its lowest level since late July 2015.
Santumas Shareholdings retreated by 1.3 per cent to the €2.35 level on trivial volumes.
Meanwhile, Bank of Valletta (13,168 shares) and HSBC (5,000 shares) maintained the €2.20 and €1.60 levels. The directors of HSBC are scheduled to meet on August 3 to consider and approve the interim financial results for the period ending June 30. During the same meeting, the directors will also consider the declaration of an interim dividend.
Also among the large companies, a single deal of 8,000 shares left the equity of International Hotel Investments at the 64c9 level. On Tuesday, IHI announced that its subsidiary company CHI Limited signed an agreement with Meydan Group based in the United Arab Emirates for the provision of technical services as well as for the management of a luxury beachfront resort under construction in Dubai.
MaltaPost held on to its 2016 low of €1.80 across 7,832 shares.
Similarly, MIDI and Mapfre Middlesea plcalso traded unchanged at 38c and €2.20 respectively. In an interim directors’ statement issued recently, MIDI explained the latest developments with respect to the Manoel Island project.
On the bond market, the RF MGS Index trended higher for the fifth consecutive time as it gained a further 0.04 per cent to 1,153.778 points - the highest level since mid-April.
The 10-year benchmark German Bund yield hit a fresh record low for the third consecutive day today as it briefly touched the 0.02 per cent level possibly on heightened Brexit fears.
On the economic front, data concerning German consumer price inflation showed a 0.3 per cent gain month-on-month in May following a 0.4 per cent drop in April.
Year-on-year, German consumer prices rose by just 0.1 per cent - far below the two per cent inflationary target of the European Central Bank.
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